Man and woman accused of murder at Drogheda party

A man and woman from Co Louth have gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of murdering 29-year-old Darren McKeown in Drogheda in December 2007.

Michael Cruise (aged 19), from Donore Avenue, Ballsgrove in Drogheda and Louise Wall (aged 21), from Cranmore, Clogherhead, have both pleaded not guilty to the murder.

Mr McKeown, who was from Donore in Co Meath, died in Beaumont Hospital on December 29, 2007, after an alleged assault at a party in the Rowan Heights estate, Drogheda, in the hours between Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day.

Cruise and Wall have also denied a second count of violent disorder.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Sean Gillane SC, told the jury that the case is one of alleged joint enterprise or common design.

He said it is the prosecution's case that Mr McKeown never recovered from the injuries he received during the “sustained, prolonged and vicious attack” at the party.

Mr Gillane said that Mr McKeown, had lived in an area of Co Meath that bordered the Rowan Heights estate in Rathmullen, and that he knew a number of people who lived there.

On Christmas Day he went drinking at a house in the estate, and the day involved “considerable and heavy drinking by a number of people.”

Word spread that a party was taking place, and a large number of people were gathered in the house and coming and going from it throughout the day.

Mr Gillane said there was “general disorder” and the prosecution is arguing that this descended into violent disorder and ultimately an assault on Mr McKeown.

During the day, Mr McKeown argued with a woman who had been involved in a relationship with a family member, but the relationship had broken up.

Mr Gillane said he afterwards became the subject of a “savage attack” on a green area outside the house.

He told the jury they will hear evidence of “kicks to the head and upper torso of Mr McKeown who was lying on the ground and not defending himself”.

Mr McKeown tried to get to his feet, but fell and cracked his head on the ground. He then went back into the house where there was a “subsequent assault” in the living room, during which he was “punched and struck with an ashtray.”

Mr Gillane said he was led out to the driveway of the house where he was left bleeding and unconscious. The emergency services arrived on the scene at around 3.30am and rushed him to hospital.

He never regained consciousness and died three days later.

The jury of six men and six women were told that they will hear eye witness evidence from a number of people who attended the party.

Mr Gillane also said that a third man, Jason McGlone also known as Jason McEnteggart, had also been charged with Mr McKeown's murder, but was not before the court because he was now deceased.

The trial resumes tomorrow morning before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.